I Can See Your Combat Power

Perfect, heartfelt.” Clan Head Tang Zhi praised with a smile, “Who would have thought that Elder Luo Zong had such a talent. It’s truly mesmerizing.” If you ask who was the first to know the Minor Spiritual Realm could not be saved, there is no doubt it would be the Tang Luo in front of them. But if it wasn’t for the fact he had figured it out beforehand, he would have been swept up by Tang Luo’s performance, full of hysteria, madness, and threads of sorrow shining in his eyes, leaving one unable to distinguish between reality and pretend.

You re flattering me, Clan Head,” Tang Luo responded calmly. It may have seemed like he was just acting. At least his sadness was real. Even though he knew that the Demon King would self-destruct to secure the freedom of the Blood God, the thought of the Demon King, who was unmatched in benevolence and righteousness, dying so, filled him with regret and made him feel downcast.

The two older men naturally couldn’t understand the young man’s feeling of loss, but secretly nodded in approval of his composed demeanor.

Do the Clan Head and the Great Elder have anything else for me?” Tang Luo asked, “If not, I will go back to my retreat.”

The retreat was located in the continuous mountains to the east of the clan dwelling. Just a short walk from the council hall, he planned to return and continue his studies of the Nine Classes of Qi once he was done dealing with Ji Fu.

“Don’t rush.” Clan Head Tang Zhi waved his hand, “Before that, there’s one more thing we need to discuss with you.”

If you ask what the biggest event in the Tang Clan in the past month, besides the continuous supply from the Minor Spiritual Realm, it was the stripping of Tang Luo’s robe. Those in the know understood why he couldn’t study martial arts over these few months. Although the rules of the Secret Arts Pavilion were strict, they were also considered too harsh.

Great Elder Tang Siyuan, Mountain Master Tang Kuan, Second Elder Tang Hongjun, and Sixth Elder Tang Gaomin visited Tang Hongtao one after another to talk about whether Tang Luo could maintain the status of an elder. However, the person who had always been good-natured was unexpectedly adamant this time. This meant that it was extremely difficult for Tang Luo to regain his elder status.

So, Tang Zhi thought of another way: “Elder Luo Zong, considering the huge contributions you’ve made, do you have any requests?”

Over the past few months, Tang Luo’s actions had left a deep impression on the senior members of the clan. His bravery to risk his life entering the Minor Spiritual Realm to save clan members was an act of love and righteousness.

His ability to hold his own against the Demon King and eventually gain the upper hand demonstrated courage and wisdom. The fact that he always considered the welfare of the clan captivated the upper stratum of the Tang Clan, who wished to hold him in high regard. It was surprising that after making great contributions, he was stripped of his robe. Putting themselves in his shoes, they would find this turn of events unbearable too.

They could understand Tang Luo’s youthful spirit, feeling that he indeed broke his own rules, and could only remove his robe to resolve the issue. However, the elders would not let him suffer.

Any request at all?” Tang Luo raised his eyebrow, suddenly intrigued. Tang Zhi and Tang Siyuan exchanged a smile, replying casually, “Of course.” Dealing with smart people had its benefits; just hinting at the matter was enough for the other party to take the cue. Tang Luo might not be able to be an elder in the Secret Arts Pavilion anymore, but with his achievements, he was more than qualified to be an elder in the Martial Hall, the head of which was Tang Sen. As long as Tang Sen didn’t assign any odd tasks to his own son, the position of an elder was a all about power, free from any obligations.

Upon hearing their promise, Tang Luo’s eyes grew brighter, and he seemed somewhat shy, “Then… Can I make my request?”

Uh-huh.” Clan Head Tang Zhi looked at him fondly, as if to say, “Just make your request.”

In that case, I will not be courteous!

Uh…” Tang Luo wore a broad smile, excitedly saying, “Then, I’d like a position as a Revered One!”

Clan Head Tang Zhi, who was about to agree, swallowed his words, turning a ghastly pale.

Great Elder Tang Siyuan’s face hardened, and he sternly said, “No!”

Dammit, it was true all the world deceived one!

“Just now you said any request was okay, but now you go back on your word You really vex me!” Tang Luo nonchalantly waved his hand, not even using polite words while addressing the other two men.

With a stoic face, Tang Siyuan replied bluntly, “It just can’t be done in this case, but anything else is fine!”

“You can’t even make me a Revered One, what else is there to talk about? I won’t make a request.” Tang Luo crossed his arms, looking disdainful.

Seeing that they were about to start arguing, Tang Zhi wore a bitter smile and asked Tang Luo, “Elder Luo, may I ask why you desire the position of a Revered One?”

“Ha!” Tang Luo’s eyes lit up at the mention of the Revered One, “Because the position is esteemed, pressure-free, and the benefits and conditions are top-notch. My ultimate goal is to become a Revered One of the Tang Clan!” In the entire Tang Clan, there was no better position than that of a Revered One, which came with benefits but no obligations.

“What about a child in his teens becoming a Revered One? Suggest something else!” Tang Siyuan stated coldly. Actually, a position as a Revered One didn’t matter that much.

The honor was usually bestowed upon those elders who dedicated their life to the Tang Clan. Almost every elder’s final position in the Tang Clan would be a Revered One, and as Tang Luo mentioned, the position had no obligations, and only came with high esteem and benefits.

Based on Tang Luo’s current contributions to the Tang Clan, it was almost certain that he would be granted the revered status in a hundred years, but under no circumstances could he be given the position now because of the Tang Clan’s rules.

Revered ones of the Tang Clan were not allowed to participate in the clan council and were never permitted to hold any position within the clan!

Why did the honored position of Revered One even exist? This dates back to the clan’s beginning. Every clan has its talented individuals, and once those talents found their specialty, they would continue to explore it and elevate their expertise to an extraordinary level. This level not only included professional capability but also their status.

However, talented individuals in high positions tend to unconsciously suppress the growth of their subordinates, providing no opportunities for the young ones to rise, especially considering the long lifespan of a martial artist. Many seasoned elders, possessive of their power, later in their life shifted their focus from their research to consolidating their position and authority, unwilling to give up their seat. This led to an atmosphere of stagnation in all departments of the family.

Young people were deprived of opportunities to climb up the ranks, while the old ones, watching and becoming increasingly out of touch, began to leverage their age and experience. At that time, the elder council and the clan head were at a loss, and they then created this position.

What is Revered One? They are like the deities worshipped in the clan. Even though they hold a supreme position, have you ever seen a deity intervening in mortal affairs!

This position created an opportunity for the power-hungry elders to relinquish their authority and gracefully step down. Once they became Revered Ones, they could never interfere in the affairs of the clan.

Therefore, the position of a Revered One, while being an award, was also a cage. But this cage could not be placed on the fifteen-year-old Tang Luo.

Because, apart from being a pure martial artist, the Tang Clan elders held heavier expectations for him. The elders of the Tang Clan sometimes even hypothesized whether Tang Luo would eventually become the Clan Head of the Tang Clan, or the First Head of the Martial Hall, or an elder in the Secret Arts Pavilion. This represented their immense recognition of his abilities.

But once he assumed the position of a Revered One, these conjectures would automatically become impossible. Henceforth, Tang Luo could just accompany the green hills, enjoying the benefits of being a Revered One while remaining detached from power struggles.